Burundi: Even the unemployed is getting taxed for 2020 elections!

You know that the CNDD-FDD and President Pierre Nkurunziza is hungry for money and for “contributions” from the citizens. When the state uses all means to strike at their citizens and their pockets to prepare for the Elections in 2020. This have started in other fields, where the salaries of the government employees have been deducted and also students are forced to pay.

On the 14th March 2019, the honourable Pascal Barandagiye, the Minister of Patriotic Training and Home Affairs have stated from now on, that the unemployed or the “Citoyens non-salaries” should be commissioned with an Ad-Hoc Provincial Charge as their Contribution to 2020. This should be secured by the Commission, whose in charge of collecting the funds and also be tracked by the governors of the Provinces, that shall report of the collections to the Ministry.

The ever loyal minister is clearly sending yet another signal. That even the ones without an official job, without proper work or earning money. Have to push blood out of stone. So, that the President and his party can have a lavish lifestyle and secure all the funds needed for an up-coming elections. This is just a continuation of what they are doing to the public.

If the state isn’t intimidating, limiting the public space and also controlling all paths of life. They are now ensuring more taxation and bleeding the citizens pockets for the up-coming elections. Like there is tomorrow.

It is really special, that the Ministry and Minister are proposing and actually wants to tax the ones whose has no job. They are thinking these people are having funds and valuable assets, which can give added funds for the state. That is the initial idea behind it, because the non-working still have to cough up funds like the bayliffs are coming on their door and expecting to get court ordered funds paid in full. That is what the state is doing here.

This is clearly a sign, that the matters of the state are more important, than the well-being of the public. Just like the orders of collecting funds from students, if they didn’t comply, they could get suspended or kicked out of school. That is why this is the next level in sense.

That if you have no job, no work or no current occupation. The state can still collect supposed taxes for the elections of 2020. That is what it does. That is what the proud patriotic ministry is doing to its citizens. Just a full fledged paternalistic over-stretching big-brother with a big-man with a to huge ego on the top. Who just got to get your change, even when you got no balance. Peace.

Opinion: Mayday! May-Day!

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT: The House of Commons has again rejected the Government’s #BrexitDeal in the second #MeaningfulVote. The Commons voted 391 to 242 – a majority of 149. #BrexitVote” (UK House of Commons, 12.03.2019).

The Tories and Prime Minister Theresa May have for the second time lost in the House of Commons, this being on the vote to get the Parliament to accept the Withdrawal Agreement before announced leaving date, which up in about two weeks. There is mere days before the United Kingdom is leaving as a Member State and becoming Non-Member. This should have been better prepared by the government, as the HM Government had two years preparing it. However, they botched it and not been thorough about it.

That is really evident, as the Tories has lost twice with their Withdrawal Agreement vote in the House of Commons. They have been voted down on amendments and lost to the Opposition with striking numbers like today. It is like PM May likes to be humiliated in Parliament. That she enjoys looking weak and wobbling into the future. Because, the strong and steady it haven’t been with her at the helm. That also because he head-hunted Brexiteers into the cabinet, but not thinking they would have the capacity or will to configure the pledges in the Referendum of late.

The Brexiteers like David Davis, Boris Johnson and others didn’t deliver in the roles, they just acted like Secretaries, but was smug and arrogant without dropping any sort of transparent work or proof of negotiations that mattered with Brussels. Only empty pledges and promises. That now the public should see after two years. Since the road to No-Deal is seemingly soon the only way, as the HM Government rather save face, than save the Kingdom. Rather create a depression and recession, create inflation and lack of imports, just so they can rule another minute. That is what the Tories are leading the Nation too. Because of their empty headed pride of an Empire, that is long gone and is only a faded memory.

That is why this is the news today. Another loss, another defeat and no jurisdiction or any directions concerning Brexit. Which is special concerning the limited time to fix it. But also the two years of work since announcing the notification of issuing the Article 50. They still haven’t configured or figured out how to deal with it. Except for issuing statements, saying they will fix it all and await more confidence statements from the EU. Without having anything but deadlock and lack of skills to pursuit anything meaningful.

Whatever misgivings the Tories and the HM Government does have, is that they never talked about or even considered the EU26 or the protocol of the EU, which have to held accountable. As an another sovereign and legal entity over its territory, which will not toyed around by another outsider. Just like the Brexiteers wanted to hand-pick and cherry-pick the coolest parts of the Union, while not being a Member State.

What history should now learn them, that is not how it works and it has all, but backfired. That is why there is a deadlock and steady road to crisis filled No-Deal. A backstabbing own economy, just to become a Third-Country with WTO rules, ensure the public is severely paying the price for gamble of leaving the Union and its rules, regulations and its trade union. They are surely selling each other short, while paying the price doing so. But hey that is what they wanted right?

The Tories, the Brexiteers are losing, not only the perks and the simplistic trade, but also the benefits and the Membership over a faulty towered inspired bureaucratic mumble jumbo, which cannot be accepted by anyone. That is why the Tories and PM May has lost again.

It is May-Day May-Day, the warnings been there. The Brexit have been limping, nearly moving towards anything of pride or joy. Just another loss and another humiliating day for her reign. Prime Minister Theresa May seems to be without anchor or without a guiding star leading her way to redemption.

It is a Mayday, May-Day, read all about it. Yet another default miss. Yet another Penalty Shot failing to hit between the posts. Just another defeat, no guts and no glory. That is the story. Peace.

Brexit: Legal Opinion on Joint Instrument and Unilateral Declaration concerning the Withdrawal Agreement (12.03.2019)

Zimbabwe: Statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Hon. Lt. Gen. (RTD) S.B. Moyo on the U.S.A’s Renewal of Sanctions on Zimbabwe (06.03.2019)

Opinion: The Chinese claims the loans to developing countries is not to trap them – I beg to differ!

Today, there was an interesting thing coming through my feed that captured my eye. It was a headline from the Philippines News Agency. It was claiming that the Chinese was not making developing countries in debt slaves or putting them into debt traps by taking up huge loans for extensive spending on infrastructure projects. Now in March 2019, the Chinese are claiming that they are just giving viable loans and not to much.

However, I will beg to differ, but before I do so. Let see what the Chines spokesperson said. Which I have to say is not true.

Guo Weimin, spokesperson of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said extending Chinese loans to developing countries aims to facilitate infrastructure projects that are expected to bring development and boost the economic growth of these nations. “Chinese investments only account for a very small share to their total debt. And our projects are mostly infrastructure, which can support the long-term development of those countries,” Guo said. “Yet some say, this is a great debt trap. But this doesn’t make sense,” he added” (Kris Chrismundo – ‘No debt trap for developing countries: CN political advisory body’ 02.03.2019, link: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063438).

Let’s me just take the first victim of the debt trap made by the Chinese is in Sri Lanka where the Chinese has taken over and lease the Hambantota Port for 99 years in 2018. While in Zambia, the Chinese has taken over ZESCO, the state electricity company, majority ownership of the Zambian National Broadcasting Company, and if the Republic fails more on their debt. The Zambian state might loose the ownership of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport as well.

In Kenya, the government have loaned massive funds for the Standard Gauge Railway Part 1 and 2. Now, they are on the limb and its speculated that the Port of Mombasa can be taken as collateral for the possible failing loans.

There are warning signs of the total loans given to Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Maldives, Ghana, Liberia Philippines and so on. They are clearly strategic about it. There should also be worrying about the loans given to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and so on. The Chinese has loaned for massive projects and not small-pocketed money. Which the Chinese would like to have back paid.

This is just small examples of what that is coming. Because the states are taking up gigantic loans, which they can possibly default with. That is why the Chinese has been smart enough to sign for collateral, which usually is important parts of infrastructure or mobility. So, that the Chinese can trade and also control vital parts of the economy. They are not joking around and seemingly taken a soft approach to neo-colonize the developing countries. Because they can and have the ability to do so.

We can wonder if there will be more like this. There are also the battle happening in Djibouti over the Doraleh Port, who went from DP World Port Company to a Chinese Company. That was because of the debt that the Republic of Djibouti had. Just like the port in Sri Lanka went to them as well. Both very strategic and important ports in their regions. Therefore, the Chinese has gotten good infrastructure and possible revenue streams in these Republic for their defaulting loans.

There will be more to come out of this. That is why I don’t believe the Chinese, saying the developing countries can manage the amount of loans, as the Chinese are planning to takeover something to get repaid for their services. Peace.

Opinion: President Kenyatta’s corruption fight is like a mirage

If the sword of oppression be permitted to lop off one limb without opposition, reiterated strokes will soon dismember the whole body.” Alexander Hamilton

After the recent weeks and the new fancy scandals, you can pound and wonder, where is there no corruption, Mr. President?

The President, I am asking today is President Uhuru Kenyatta and his administration. The Jubilee has a special feature, they have a own slogan of fighting corruption, while amassing more of them at the same time. They are capturing the headlines nearly daily.

President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto are in the wind, they are battling a big monster, which themselves are contributing too. They are trying to play the card of battling it, while they are feeding it. The Cabinet Secretaries are usually implicated, the Principal Secretaries are as well.

The government are doing it all ways possible, by borrowing money for ghost projects like ghost-dams, which has been revealed recently. The state has taken giant loans from Eurobonds twice and still configured ways to siphon the funds away from the government. The Jubilee have eaten directly from the investment funds directed to youth employment. The Jubilee have been able to take away from health care procurement and waste funds there, instead of helping the sickly in dire need.

This is how we can go-on. This is a continued saga that never stops. While the Jubilee have a stark rise in corruption, at the same time, the state has taken out more and more debt. Therefore, the state is not only owning the creditors more money, but they are also wasting the loans. Which the state will pay back with interests after the grace period. This is will backfire on the next cabinets and next state officials, as they will have to clear the debts and find revenue to repay them. If not sell collateral- or assets. This will really be devastating.

Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto will downplay the indirect bribes, graft and corruption done by their officials, they will say it is less or not really allocated. They will act a fool, but at the same time attack the cause and say they are dealing with it. By going after the minor cases or small fry, they are going after the chicken thief or the small businessmen who does it to be able to trade on the market. However, the ones who runs the market and runs the “monopoly” imports are in the pocket of the administration, and will will not be touched.

As long as Cheech and Chong is running this Republic. The growth of the corruption will continue to rise. As their businesses are growing, their empires are getting stronger. The two leaders are grabbing more land, more government tenders and even development projects. That is what the President and Deputy does. While the Jubilee says they are fighting it.

Therefore, as long as these two are running the government. Expect more graft, bribes, kick-backs, siphoned funds and ghost projects. There will ghost everywhere, the cronies will create straw/shell companies who siphon funds… this will occur again and again. The state will give- or loan for non-function development projects/organizations, whose supposed to do something, but in reality it will be a figment of imagination. It will be a make believe like a mirage. It will only be in the vision of the person hinging for water, but when the person arrives to the mirage. There will be no water, but only more hot-sand. This is what the Jubilee does to the public.

The Jubilee is offering a mirage to continue … and hoping no one is feeling the hot-sand, but believing in the mirage. Peace.

BoU Scandal: Office of the Leader of the Opposition – Recommendations of the opposition on COSASE report (28.02.2019)

Brexit: George Eustice’s resignation letter to Prime Minister Theresa May (28.02.2019)

Zimbabwe – Press Statement by the Minister of Energy and Power Development: Hon J. McD. Gumbo on Rumours of Fuel Price Increase (28.02.2019)

Opinion: Katuntu now have to bite the bullet!

Abdu Katuntu got to keep the position and chairman of the Parliament’s Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on overtime to finish a report on the closure of 7 defunct banks in the Republic. He got the lifeline by the Speaker Rebecca Kagada in Parliament in January, as he wasn’t ready to deliver the report.

Katuntu as the MP who ran the committee decided on when to drop the report, which the report was dropped on the 19th February 2019. Now, today the IGG letter of the 19th February 2019 asked the Internal Security Organization (ISO) to look into the investigations and the possible kick-backs for a lenient report, which this was. The Report dropped was sleek, soft and guarded. Therefore, the question of what the COSASE is shielding or didn’t dig into could come into question.

If there was some bankers, some inside Bank of Uganda or anyone else of the Stakeholders of the defunct banks would enforce kick-backs to the Chairman and the Committee wouldn’t be surprising in relations to this is the Republic of Presidential Handshakes. In the Republic where the MPs are paid for voting in favour of favourable bills and motions of the Presidents agenda. Therefore, the initial idea of the IGG fits the state of affairs.

BUT, this is a hit-job, as this is leaked as the COSASE is getting new leadership, as the report has been delivered to the public and to the Parliament. The IGG and AG could act upon the work that Katuntu delivered. Nevertheless, there are more stakes at hand, as there are invisible hands overshadowing, as the cronies and investors, whose could be close to the President could be implicated. That is why the President was so adamant statements about the whole investigation and that it should have been done behind closed-doors. However, that didn’t happen.

Katuntu thought he did good, thought he delivered for the ones he made promises too. He thought with the extended time and promise of leverage, that he wouldn’t be hit. However, the President and his security organization is still on a vengeance. They are retaliating now, because the state suddenly looks into it. Because, the state is trying to save face.

It is weird timing that they are starting to investigate now, as they could have looked into the issues within the BoU before this, as there was plenty of banks closed wrongfully. Still, it didn’t matter then, but now it does. That looks weird and looks like a hit-job.

That Katuntu is now the latest victim… not the last, whose being used, tricked and later discarded. Peace.